5 Best Businesses in Grand Theft Auto Online

There are plenty of ways to make money in Grand Theft Auto Online that don’t involve holding up gas station attendants with an RPG. Sure, they’re slightly more legitimate than your everyday stick up, but they’re also a means to an end, and not to mention a gateway to a whole ocean of perks and infinite wealth. The question is, can you stick around long enough to watch that lump of coal turn into a diamond, or will you forever spend your days committing petty crimes for small change? If you answered yes to the former, then perhaps it’s time to invest in your first batch of businesses.

Of course, there are numerous ways to earn funds in San Andreas outside of corporate monopolisation. But if you’re planning on sticking around for the long haul and earning your keep in a community that’s becoming increasingly cutthroat by the day, then you’ll want to invest in a few business ventures as early on as possible. Speaking of which, these following five corporate empires are hands down some of the best money-making exploits in 2023.

5. Nightclubs

Assuming you want to have a legitimate business venture to disguise your criminal empire that’ll eventually operate under the cover of darkness, taking the nightclub route may be your best bet. As owning a thread of nightclubs offers a passive income, it does mean you’ll have more opportunities to invest in other activities during the day-to-day — illegitimate activities included.

As with any business venture that you buy into, being a boss of a nightclub does come with its own set of challenges; being able to maintain the club’s popularity, being the most obvious one. However, if you’re able to stay on top of the side missions and keep your DJs and staff in check, then you’ll find that earning money as a club owner is not only easy, but a genuinely enjoyable side hustle, too.

On a good day, and providing you’re averaging out a 95-100% popularity rating, a single nightclub will earn you $10,000 every 48 in-game minutes. If you’re able to expand on your empire by upgrading staff, security, and equipment, then there’s nothing to say that this won’t increase to an even grander figure. Whatever it is you’re planning on doing during the twilight hours, know that having a nightclub that rakes in dough during the night is definitely something you’ll want to have in your back pocket.

4. Counterfeit Cash Factories

If you’ve the $75,000 to spare for the initial supplies, then there’s no doubt about it — operating a counterfeit cash factory out of the Grand Senora Desert is arguably one of the best ways to earn a passive income. And we’re talking upwards of $120,000 an hour, providing you’re able to pour the time and effort into keeping its stock and staff ticking over on a daily basis. Combine it with some of the other MC operations in Grand Theft Auto Online, and you could wind up taking home anywhere from $845,000 to $1.6 million per day.

Like a lot of businesses that operate from a remote location, the counterfeit cash factory is best accompanied by another local venture; the cocaine lockup or meth lab, being the two go-to choices for those looking to manage an empire with absolute discretion.

If you’re able to build your factory in a location that’s only a stone’s throw away from the next underground operation, then you will, of course, spend less time travelling, and more time working towards checking all the boxes and meeting the day’s quota. Do that, and you’ll have your pockets stuffed with coin by the end of each shift — and then some.

3. Bunkers

If you’re one for playing not only the manufacturer, but also the distributor of high-powered firearms, then you’re sure to find a home away from home in the Bunker, a swanky storage unit that’s primarily used for crafting and selling weapons at top-dollar prices. If you’re able to invest in getting the facility fully stocked and upgraded, then there’s nothing to say you won’t earn a pretty penny in the long run. And when we say pretty penny, we’re talking something along the lines of $750,000 per sale.

Granted, there’s a lot of work that needs putting in if you’re planning on flipping a profit with this particular business. That said, if you’re able to invest the big bucks into getting it off the ground, then you’ll come to find that shipping weapons is one of the fastest ways to earn a living, regardless of how many side hustles you have on the go.

Getting your foot on the ladder with weapons distribution is as simple as purchasing resources on your laptop. Gain enough of said resources, and your workforce will essentially turn them into valuable weapons for general resale. Ship enough of them, and you’ll be making millions in profits every other day.

2. Meth Labs

As far as long term businesses in Grand Theft Auto Online go, the network of MC operations that you can take control of are hands down some of the most profitable in all of San Andreas. And sure, they’re a little needy and risky to maintain, and not to mention expensive to fire up from scratch, but they’re also littered with perks for those willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

While your average newcomer won’t be able to invest in the Meth Lab operation with the small change in their pockets, an avid entrepreneur will likely have the funds to spare to get the ball rolling. And if they can come up with just shy of a million to actually buy the darn cow, then those udders will wind up spewing out anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 for every batch sold. So, clearly one of the best businesses in Grand Theft Auto Online, after all.

1. Arcades

If you’re looking to really squeeze the citizens of San Andreas dry, then you’ll want to consider buying into the arcade market. Why? Well, for starters, an average day will see you take home roughly $50,000 in profits. And that’s only a small portion of the arcade’s purpose, as it also doubles up as a hub for heists, too, which can provide you with even more money-making schemes to assist in your endeavours to milk the ever-evolving cash cow.

Heists can be completed as many times as you wish, which alone makes the arcade side hustle one of the best businesses to invest in. And while they’re often rather time consuming, and not to mention a total pain in the backside to organise, they do turn up some pretty nifty cash rewards. So, if you’re after a passive income with the flexibility to dig a little deeper into its pockets, then be sure to branch out to the entertainment bracket as soon as you have the startup funds to spare.

So, what’s your take? Will you be investing in any of the above Grand Theft Auto Online businesses? Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.